49ers left guard Alex Boone has a slight MCL tear in his right knee, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). The injury, which Boone suffered in the team’s 24-10 loss to Cleveland on Sunday, isn’t serious enough to force Boone under the knife. However, he will not play again in 2015. That’s an understandable move for Boone, who is slated to hit the open market.
This spring, Boone figures to be one of the top offensive lineman available in free agency. The 28-year-old was away from the 49ers for the entire 2014 offseason while fishing for a better contract. He wound up settling for a two-year pact, a deal that he figures to top in a matter of months.
With Boone done in a 49ers uniform for at least the rest of this season, the club will turn to second-year man Marcus Martin, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.